Pitino Previews Wednesday's BIG EAST Opener Against Seton Hall
January 04, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 4, 2011
Game Notes
Rick Pitino Audio | Rick Pitino on Podcast
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino met with the media Tuesday afternoon at the Yum! Center to preview Wednesday's BIG EAST opener against Seton Hall on Jan. 5 at the KFC Yum! Center. Start time is set for 7:02 p.m. ET, and the game is being broadcast on ESPNU, with Mark Brown (play-by-play) and LaPhonso Ellis (color) calling the action.
The Cardinals, ranked 23rd in this week's ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll, are coming off a tough 78-63 loss to 11th-ranked Kentucky on Dec. 31. Despite a slow start, Louisville was solid from the field in the second half (15-of-22) and beyond the arc (5-of-9). Preston Knowles led the Cards with 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field. Chris Smith chipped in 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting, while Kentucky was led by Brandon Knight (25 points) and Josh Harrellson (23 points, 14 rebounds).
Seton Hall enters the contest with a 7-7 overall mark, having split its already two BIG EAST games. The Pirates lost their last contest, 70-53, at Cincinnati on Dec. 31. Keon Lawrence scored a career-high 15 points, while Fuquan Edwin and Herb Pope chipped in 10 apiece. As a team, Seton Hall shot 15-of-45 (33.3 percent) from the field, going 5-of-14 (35.7 percent) from beyond the arc. Defensively, the Pirates forced 12 Cincinnati turnovers and held the Bearcats to 47.1 percent (24-of-51) shooting from the field and 30 percent (6-of-20) from 3. Seton Hall's only BIG EAST win came against USF, a 64-55 home win.
The Pirates are under the direction of Kevin Willard, who is in his first season at the helm of the program. Prior to his stop at Seton Hall, Willard coached Iona after serving as an assistant and associate head coach at Louisville under Pitino. Seton Hall was picked to finish 11th in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll. First-team all-BIG EAST selection in Jeremy Hazell has not played since Nov. 19 after breaking his left wrist. Behind Hazell, Jeff Robinson ranks second on the team in scoring with 12.1 points per game.
The Series - Louisville vs. Seton Hall
Louisville owns the all-time series advantage, 8-5, including an impressive 5-1 home mark against Seton Hall. The Cardinals, winners of five of the past seven meetings, dropped a close 80-77 decision last season (Jan. 21) at Seton Hall. Jeremy Hazell led the charge with 25 points, going 9-of-12 from the field, in the win. Edgar Sosa was the Cardinals' lone double-digit scorer, as he tallied 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Louisville shot 14-of-26 (53.8 percent) in the first half, but managed to only connect on 36.8 percent (14-of-38) of its tries in the second. In the last visit to Louisville, the Cardinals grabbed a 95-78 victory. Earl Clark scored a career-high 27 points and had 14 rebounds. Teammate Terrence Williams also had a double-double, with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
GAME FACTS - Louisville vs. Seton Hall
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 5
Time: 7:02 p.m. ET
Site: KFC Yum! Center/Crum Court, Louisville, Ky. (22,000)
TV: ESPNU will televise the game, with Mark Brown (play-by-play) and LaPhonso Ellis (color) calling the action.
Radio: WKRD (790 AM, 101.7 FM) will broadcast the game on radio, with Paul Rogers (play-by-play) and Bob Valvano (color) calling the action.
SIRIUS: Game will be available on SIRIUS Channel 152.
Series History: Louisville leads the all-time series, 8-5 (5-1 in Louisville, 3-4 in New Jersey).
Officials: Ed Corbett, Bob Donato, Karl Hess
Next U of L Game: Jan. 9 at USF, Tampa, Fla., Noon ET (BIG EAST Network/WHAS-TV in Louisville)
